In the words of Ray Romano's father, "HOLY CRAP!" I haven't updated this fic in a little over a month!! I blame it on my job, people! I started a job at Valentine's Day and it's eaten up my weekends ever since! I only got to do this chapter today because I stayed home from school. Food poisoning or something; I feel like ass…
So I'm so sorry for this long-overdue chapter! Kudos to my reviewers!
Ron – Sheez. Where have you been? Haven't talked to you in forever. Glad you noticed the blood. O_o;
The Flame Panther – I really hope people don't go into a mad rage. You might have more to yell at me about (as far as killing goes) in this tear-jerking chapter.
Spirit Dragon – Like I said, I don't know why this is rated R. I got reported and my yaoi fics got taken down, so I became a little paranoid. Trace levels of yaoi in this chapter; I hope it doesn't offend you.
Thais – Trace levels of yaoi, probably not enough to give you a good fix, but there's cuteness ahead in later paragraphs!
Sindy – Sheez, thanks for reviewing today! You kinda reminded me that I have a fic on FF.net, Lol.
And on with the story!
Marth could hear the blood pounding in his ears. His teal hair was matted down against his forehead and blood was caked in some of his soft locks. He was battered and bruised after a long while of fighting. Some of his clothes were torn and blood dribbled from the cuts his adversaries had inflicted. A bead of sweat trickled down between his blue 'brows, but he failed to wipe it away. It dripped from the tip of his nose and fell to the soiled tile floor with a soft splashing sound.
Trembling in his rage, Marth watched as Tomoyuki stood across the room from him. The bastard was in hysterics. Tomoyuki was practically unharmed, but that was because he wasn't the one who was doing the fighting. Between Marth and Tomoyuki lay the innards and remains of the vile creatures the mage had summoned to do his fighting for him. Though the mage was completely unharmed, Marth was nearly exhausted. He'd never dreamed of such beasts as he had just fought. Hydras and hellhounds, bat-creatures and birds, devils and dragons, he'd slain them all. He was drenched in their blood.
Tomoyuki was preoccupied with his uncontrollable laughter and so Marth felt safe enough, even in his vulnerable position, to steal a glance over in Roy's direction. His fallen comrade's body lay motionless on the cold tile floor. He was resting in a pool of dark red blood and the hand that had been clamped over his chest wound was relaxed now. There was no sign of life in his body whatsoever.
The absence of his friend made Marth freeze where he stood. R-Roy was gone? But if Roy wasn't there to believe in him, then… No! This was just what had happened before! Marth dropped Falchion with a clatter and reached up to hold his whirling head. When Marth had lost his hand, Roy had lost faith in Marth's fighting ability. That j-just drove him insane. Even when he was committing those murders, though, Roy knew that Marth was still a kindhearted soul. That's why he'd been able to turn himself around and stand up to the mage instead of taking his anger out on his friends. But now, without Roy's support…
Marth was nothing.
Marth's sudden sobs made Tomoyuki laugh even harder as he threw open his cloak. "Just as I've expected," he murmured, "you've broken. Just because Roy isn't here to hold your hand, you've lost all faith in your ability to fight. He thought that you could defeat me, but he was wrong! I won't be beaten by a handicapped, knife-wielding brat like you!"
Tomoyuki spread his arms with a yell as his shoulders began to bulge. From his torso exploded a shower of blood and Marth's eyes widened in shock. Out of the mage's body emerged four new appendages, four additional arms for him to work with, and none of these lacked a hand. In each of his strong new hands was clenched the hilt of a heavy steel sword. Their design was familiar – a thick, flat, double-edged blade with wings sprouting from the hilt. It was a fashion similar to that of the Sword of Seals, but the hilt was black instead of gold
Marth tensed and clenched his jaw as he took a slight step back. Tomoyuki advanced upon his victim, laughing at the fear in the prince's eyes. "Are you scared, boy?" he taunted, crouching down a bit. "You should be. I plan to send you straight to Hell, Prince Marth, right where you belong!" Tomoyuki leapt into the air like a pouncing animal and Marth turned to run, but he was too late. He was swallowed up in the mage's shadow.
Marth could see nothing for several minutes. The world around him was dark, was black, and he felt like he was being smothered inside something. He felt something around him, something sharp like teeth gnawing and biting at his tender flesh. For a moment, the exhausted prince felt the urge to just give in to the smothering warmth. He wanted to die in this darkness, but his hopes were crushed as he was violently spit back out onto the chilly tile floor. The prince lay on the floor in a shallow puddle of his own blood. His arms and legs were lacerated. Deep cuts lined his cheeks and had dramatically shortened some pieces of is blood-matted hair. Why had Tomoyuki stopped?
Marth's glassy blue gaze lifted to where Tomoyuki stood over him, struggling with his own fresh flesh wound. Behind the mage, Roy stood with the blood-blackened Sword of Seals in his iron grip. A snarl was scrawled across his young face and blood was freckled on his cheeks. That was the only blood on his body right now. Roy was immaculate in his gold armor and white tunic. He'd come to Marth's rescue and saved his prince from certain death.
Marth's eyes widened as Roy's gaze met his. Neither of them said a word, but Roy's confident smirk spoke volumes. Marth knew that he had to take a stand. He reached for Falchion and supported himself with the weapon at first before he eventually stood up straight. There was now an angry swordsman on either side of the six-armed mage. Tomoyuki turned nervously from one warrior to the other as they began pacing around him, clutching their swords tightly. Falchion's blade was glowing with a faint purple tint, and the Sword of Seals was white-hot with its inner fire. The dark mage smirked, crossing his swords at his sides, prepared to counter any attack either injured teen might try on him.
Marth and Roy exchanged a glance before they lifted their heavy blades up over their shoulders, glaring at Tomoyuki. Their capes were blowing in the breeze that began tearing through the room. Their divine swords heated up with their separate energies and both of the vengeful teens snarled as the hilts began trembling. "Flare Blade…" Roy murmured. "Shield Buster…" Marth echoed him. Tomoyuki's eyes dilated. This might be a bit more painful than he expected…
"ATTACK!"
--
When the light died and the dust settled, nothing organic was left of the dark mage. Five melted swords lay in the middle of the floor atop the charred remains of a black cloak. Thick red blood pooled around these remains, that which didn't boil away from the heat of the joint attack. These remnants were still smoldering. Tomoyuki had been destroyed.
Off to the side of the room lay the two bodies of the fallen heroes. Their swords rested above their heads as they lay together. Marth cuddled close against his friend who lay very very still. When their massive attack had finished, he had found Roy on the floor just like he was before, still clutching the gaping hole in his chest.
"…a-and I thought you were a ghost!" Marth was talking to Roy, stroking through his auburn hair and holding his free hand. "But I followed you here and I saw that you were avenging me, a-a-and I just had to help you." Tears welled in his crystalline eyes. When he opened his mouth to speak, blood poured over his chapped lips. "Why did you have to jump in front of me like that, Roy? Y-you shouldn't have. Please, don't do that next time, let m-me take my own hits. Please, promise me y-you won't do it again… Please. Answer me, Roy." The fallen warrior rested, silent and still, with a peaceful expression on his pallid face.
Marth lay for several minutes just looking at Roy before he leaned down and kissed his chilly lips, leaving a smear of his blood on them. He then rested his head on Roy's shoulder and closed his eyes, softly sobbing as fatigue claimed his soul for sleep.
Aww, so sad, ne? Happy and sad at the same time…One final chapter coming, and this one should be easy. Expect it sometime soon, as early as this week!
